CHESHIRE East Council says it remains committed to harmonising car parking charges across the borough.

This was the declared policy when CEC took charge in April, but shoppers and traders are frustrated that tariffs still differ.

Parking in Macclesfield for up to an hour costs between 40pence and 60p, and in Crewe and Nantwich, 70p, while charges in Congleton and Sandbach, where parking is currently still free, will be between 10p and 30p for an hour when tariffs begin there from early next year.

There has also been criticism over CEC’s refusal to introduce a free Saturday parking trial in Macclesfield or any holiday concessions.

But council leader, Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald, insisted last week that CEC is aware of the concerns.

"We seek to assure residents and businesses that we are listening," he said. "We recognise that this issue has become very emotive with passions running high and I would ask everyone to try and appreciate why we are taking this action. When this authority was formed, we inherited many different ways of working and it was clear that harmonisation of all our services was essential. This included car park management. Leaving things as they were would create an unbalanced and unfair system: one area’s car parks would be fully subsidised at the expense of other parts of Cheshire East. Every effort is being made to keep all tariffs down to a level that is reasonable. As well as our residents, Cabinet is also listening very carefully to our colleagues throughout the council and to ward representatives in specific areas in particular. We have now agreed to a staggered introduction so that all car parks are brought on board gradually."